Method and apparatus for making a selvage



April 4, 1970 Q N. E. KLEIN 3,506,518

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SELVAGE Filed March 2, 1964 I 10Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NORMAN E. KLEIN M (Z. W

ATTORNEY 1 April 14, 1970 N. E. K LElN 3,50

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SELVAGE Filed March 2 1964 1oSheets-Sheet a l I l INVENTOR.

' NORMAN E. KLEIN FIG. -3- BY Mam ATTORNEY I N. E. KLEIN METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR MAKING A SELVAGE April 14, 1970 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMarch 2, 1964 INVENTOR. NORMAN E. KLEIN ATTORNEY April 14, 1970 N. E.-KLEIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SELVAGB l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledMarch 2, 1964 in NM.

INVENTOR NORMANE.KLHN

ATTORNEY April 14, 1970 N. E. KLEIN 3,506,518

a METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SELVAGE Filed March 2, 1964 V v 10Sheets-Sheet 5 5 1% g I F i a :5;

Fl INVENTOR.

NORMAN E. KLEIN MR. Wm

ATTORNEY April 1970 N. E KLEIN 3,506,518

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SELVAGE Filed March 2, 1964 l0Sheets-Sheet 6 0 3| 30 8 o o ll? 0 0 o e q 0 f Ill 0 ll5 n4 110 Q 0 us 8FIG. -8-

INVENTOR. NORMAN E. KLEIN MP. W

ATTORNEY April 14, 1970 N. E. KLEIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING ASELVAGE l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 2, 1964 INVENTOR.

NORMAN E.KLEIN ATTORNEY April 1970 v N N. EKLEIN 3,506,518

METHOD ANb APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SELVAGE Filed March 2. 1964 B 10Sheets-Sheet 8 I SYNCHRONIZATION SEALI 5W 0 INVENTOR. NORMAN E. KLEIN QM/7. M

ATTORNEY April 14, 1970 N. E. KLEIN 3,506,518

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SELVAGE Filed March 2, 1964 10Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR NORMAN E. KLEIN F G. /6 W/KM ATTORNEY April 14,1970 N. E. KLEIN 3,506,518

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SELVAGE Filed March 2, 1964 10Sheets-Sheet 1O INVENTOR NORMAN E.KLE|N M R bv;

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,506,518 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKINGA SELVAGE Norman E. Klein, Spartanbnrg, S.C., assignor to DeeringMilliken Research Corporation, Spartanburg, S.C., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 348,591 Int. Cl;B32b 31/04, 31/20 US. Cl. 156-269 50 Claims This invention relatesgenerally to methods and apparatus for forming a thermoplastic typeselvage in a textile material and more particularly to methods andapparatus for continuously forming from a roll of material such items asdiapers, handkerchiefs, etc., which are cut from the roll and the cutedges are automatically sealed with a thermoplastic type selvage toprevent unraveling.

Prior to this invention machines and methods to cut and seal textilematerial were known but operated on a periodic intermittent productionflow action resulting in slow production rate as well as poor registryof the seal and cut actions. Furthermore, the prior methods used aliquid adhesive to provide a salvage on the cut ends of the textilematerial being handled. Such liquid adhesive was hard to handle andtended to spill over and on the machinery causing decrease-d efliciencyof the machine and sloppy working conditions. Furthermore, the use of aliquid sealant required time to dry which lowered the production rateaccordingly.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide methods andapparatus to continuously and efficiently seal and cut a textilematerial.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus tocontinuously and efficiently seal and cut a textile material whereinregistry between the cut and seal action are improved.

A still further object of the invention is to provide methods andapparatus to provide increased production of cutting and sealing textilematerials which employ a film of sealant material such as polyvinylchloride or the like.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus toseal and cut textile materials which provide a straight and cleanly cutthe thermoplastic type selvage.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus toseal and cut textile materials in which a novel timing arrangement isemployed to synchronize the movement of a reciprocating element withthat of a rotor over a pre-determined angle of movement of the rotor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide methods andapparatus to seal and cut textile materials which employ a detectionsystem which will prevent dam-age to the apparatus upon detection of aflaw in the material being processed.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus toseal and cut textile materials which control the speed of the textilematerial being supplied in direct response to the speed of the take-upof such material.

A seventh object of the invention is to provide an efficient and highproduction diaper machine which evenly and continuously seals and cutsdiapers with a thermoplastic type selvage.

Other objects and advantages will become clearly .apparent as thespecification proceeds to describe the invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic drawing of the overall arrangement;

3,506,518 Patented Apr. 14, 1970 FIGURE 2 is a schematic arrangement ofthe drive system for the machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a blown up view of the feed roll control cam shown in FIGURE2;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the rotor cage member;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective end view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1 withparts broken away to show details of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken through the upper platen and therotor-cage assembly to show details of the upper platen and therotor-cage assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a blown up view of the timing chain arrangement shown inFIGURE 5 employed to synchronize the reciprocating movement of the upperplaten with the rotating movement of the rotor-cage assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a top view of the chain and crank arm shown in FIGURE 6 toillustrate the connection of the timing chain to the crank arm;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective schematic view of the film feeding mechanism;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the seam detection apparatus;

FIGURE 11 is a top view of the fixed cutting blade shown in FIGURE 5FIGURE 12 is a graphical representation of the operation of therotor-cage assembly and the upper platen;

FIGURES 13-17 are schematic representations of the movement of the upperplaten and the rotor-cage assembly to provide a sealed edge strip oftextile material; and

FIGURE 18 is a partial circuit diagram of the herein disclosed textilemachine.

In the preferred form of the invention sealed edge diapers are beingproduced continuously from a roll of material. Preferably a polyvinylchloride film approximately A" in breadth is heat sealed across thewhole width of the diaper cloth. The sealed portion of the diapermaterial is then cut in the center to provide a diaper withapproximately a A" thermoplastic selvage on each end to preventunreaveling. With the herein disclosed method and apparatus a productionrate of 2434 diapers a minute is obtainable versus much slower rateswith a machine employing a liquid sealant. As pointed out above it ispreferred to manufacture diapers with a polyvinyl chloride seal,hereafter referred to as a PVC seal, but obviously other similarproducts such as. hankerchiefs, etc., can be made employing the sameapparatus and methods. Also it is within the scope of the invention toemploy other suitable film material to create a thermoplastic typeselvage on the ends of the material being produced.

Looking now to FIGURES 1 and 2 there is illustrated schematically thegeneral arrangement of the preferred form of the diaper machine. Diapermaterial 1 from a roll of material 2 is delivered to the rotatingrotor-cage assembly 3 by top and bottom feed rolls 4 and 5. Successivelythe diaper material 1 from the roll 2 passes under the guide rolls 6 and7, between the feed rolls 4 and 5, over another guide roll 8, under thedancer roll 9, between the seam detector rolls 10 and 11 (shown inFIGURE 10), and onto the rotor-cage assembly 3. Thermoplastic type filmmaterial, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is then supplied from asupply roll 12 to a position between the diaper material 1 and the upperplaten member 13 where it is heat set into the diaper material by theheated upper platen 13. The rotating rotorcage asembly rotating in theclockwise direction indicated by an arrow brings the sealed portion ofthe diaper material to a position where the diaper material 1 is severedin the middle of the seal by the fixed knife blade 14. After passing theblade 14 the severed diaper 174 will fall onto a conveyor 15 where it isconveyed to a position, not shown, for folding and packing.

A main drive motor 16 is provided to drive both the rotor-cage assembly3 and the cloth nip roll 5. To drive both the rotor-cage assembly 3 andthe cloth nip roll 5, the main drive motor is operably connected to thecountershaft 17, suitably supported in the side plates 18 and 19 of theframe 96 of the diaper machine, by a sheave member 20 fixed to the drivemotor shaft 21, a belt 22 of suitable construction, and another sheave23 fixed to the countershaft 17.

From the countershaft the rotor-cage assembly 3 is continuouslyrotatably driven from the countershaft 17 through gears 24 and 25 andthe rotor shaft 26.

Swing arm or upper platen and film support members 27, freely mounted onthe rotor shaft 26, are reciprocably driven from the countershaft 17through chain members 28, stub shafts 111, timing chains 30, and crankarms 31 pinned to the swing arms 27.

The cloth feed roll is also driven by the main drive 16 through thecountershaft 17. Interspaced between the countershaft and the cloth feedroll 5 is a speed variator 32 controlled preferably by a servo motor 33,schematically shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The speed variator 32 isconnected to the countershaft 17 by a timing belt 34 and is connected tothe cloth feed roll by a chain member 35. The proper speed of the feedroll is selected to coordinate with the speed of take-up by therotor-cage assembly. This pre-selected speed of the feed roll 5 is obtained :by adjusting the servo motor to provide the proper output speedof the chain member 35. The servo motor 33 and the speed variator can beof many commercially available types.

To maintain the pre-selected speed ratio between the cloth take-up bythe rotor-cage assembly 3 and the cloth delivered by the feed roll 5, adancer roll 9 is provided which is riding in the loop portion 36 of thediaper material between the guide roll 8 and the seam detector rolls and11 (shown in FIGURE 10). Dancer roll 9 is rigidly secured to a pivotallymounted rod member 37 through a support arm 37a, suitably supportedbelow the slack loop 36. Mounted on one end of the rod member 37 is acam member 44, shown enlarged in FIGURE 3, which pivots with the rodmember 37. Preferably, the cam member is designed to have surfaces 38,39 and 40 with a constant radius to provide dwell portions. Surfaces 41and 42 provide the hereinafter described camming action.

In normal operation when the cloth feed is properly synchronized withthe takeup of the rotor-cage assembly 3, the slack loop 36 will assume aposition which will position the dancer roll 9 so that the cam follower43 will ride on the dwell 39. The length of dwell 39 is so selected thatminor variations in the cloth speed will cause the cam to rotate backand forth but the cam follower 43 will not cause any change in thesetting of the potentiometer 45 since the dwell surface 39 is of aconstant radius of curvature. The dwell surface 39 is designed to allowthese small variations without affecting the cloth feed because theservo motor 33 will over heat if it is in constant use due to minorvariations in cloth feed.

Assume now that the take-up of cloth by the rotorcage assembly 3 exceedsthe amount of cloth being delivered by the feed roll 5, the slack loopwill then shorten causing the dancer roll 9 to be raised causing the rodmember 37 and the cam member 44 to rotate clockwise. If the feedvariation is large enough the cam member 44 will be rotated to aposition Where the cam follower will ride up the cam surface 41 causinga change in the potentiometer 45 which will unbalance the bridge circuit46. Unbalance of the bridge circuit 46 will cause the servo motor 33 toadjust the speed variator 32 to increase the speed of the feed roll 5.

Conversely, if the cloth feed greatly exceeds the takeup by therotor-cage assembly the slack loop 36 will lengthen allowing the dancerroll to be lowered causing the rod member 37 and the cam member 44 to berotated counterlockwise allowing the cam follower 43 to ride down thecam surface 42. Movement of the cam follower down the cam surface 42,through the schematically shown linkage 47, causes the potentiometersetting to be varied in the direction opposite to that when the feedroll 5 is underfeeding. Again the bridge circuit becomes unbalancedcausing the servo motor 33 to adjust the speed variator to slow down thedelivery speed of the feed roll 5.

The above-described speed control automatically maintains theapproximate pre-selected speed ratio between the feed roll 5 and therotor-cage assembly 3. As pointed out above, the cam member 44 is sodesigned to allow minor variations in the feed ratio without adjustmentof the servo motor 33 in order to protect the servo motor employed tocontrol the adjustment of the speed variator 33.

As an alternate to the use of the bridge circuit 46 and the servo motor33, the potentiometer can furnish a proportional command signal to asolid state amplifier which in turn would control the speed variator 32,which in this type of arranagement would be a variable speed DC. motor.The same cam, follower, and potentiometer arrangement would be employedto furnish the signal to the solid state amplifier.

To properly position the cloth material with respect to the rotor-cageassembly a conventional edge guide detector is employed to move thedolly 48 which supports the cloth roll 2. Briefly, the sensing element49 is positioned to automatically sense the edge of the clothmaterial 1. If the edge of the material is not properly positioned asignal will be relayed to the control member 50 to move the dolly in onedirection or the other. In the preferred form of the invention, thesystem employed is pneumatic and the dolly is moved back and forth by apneumatic piston. Such system is conventional and per se is not part ofthe herein disclosed invention.

Looking now to FIGURE 4 the rotor-cage assembly 3 and associated cammembers are shown in an exploded view for the sake of illustration. Alsofor the purposes of illustration the drive gear 25 is shown on theopposite end of the shaft 26 when compared with FIGURE 2. It is withinthe scope of the invention to drive the shaft 26 from either end.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 26 is a concentric shaft 51. Rigidlysecured to the central shaft 51 is a pair of platens 52 and 53 spaced180 from each other. Spaced closely adjacent to the platens 52 and 53are blade members 54 and 55 which are also rigidly secured to thecentral shaft 51. The platens 52 and 53 are spaced approximately oneinch from the cutting edge of the respective blade 54 or 55 with the topof the platen on a smaller radius than the blade.

Faced away from and on each side of the platens 52, 53 and the blades54, 55 are angle members 56, preferably of stainless steel. Each pair ofangles supported on one side of the shaft 51 are secured in spacedrelation by end supports 57 with strut supports 58 therebetween toprovide rigidity and to maintain proper spacing. The outer surface 59 ofeach angle member has holes therein through which pins 60 mounted in pinbars 61, 62, 63 and 64 can move therethrough for reasons hereinafterexplained. Disc members 65 and 66 secure the angles 56 together as acomposite structure which not only rotates generally with the main shaft26 but is rotable relative to the platens 52, 53 and the blades 54, 55.

Discs 65 and 66 are mounted on bearings 67 on the shaft 26 with the pinbars 61, 62, 63 and 64 projecting through the elongated openings 68 inthe discs. Pin members 69 on both ends of the blade and platen member 70project through the elongated openings 71 in the discs 65 and 66 and aresecured to a bell crank 80. Elongated openings 71 are large enough thatthe discs with attached angles can move relative to the platen and blademember 70 to the extent dictated by cam 82 bearing against follower 89and moving bell crank 80.

The discs 65, 66 and the angles 56 are secured together as a compositestructure by suitable means such as screws 72 which pass throughopenings 73 in the disc 65 and 66 and screw into openings 74 in theangle end supports 57. Further, a tapped tubular member 75 is providedfor each pair of end supports 57 and is placed in registry with theelongated slots 76 in the end supports 57. Suitable means, such as screwmembers 78, can then be inserted through the elongated openings 79 inthe discs 65 and 66, through the elongated slots 76 in the end supports57, and screwed into the tapped or threaded opening 75a in the tubularmember 75 to provide a rigid construction. Elongated openings 79 andelongated slots 76 allow the adjustment of the tubular member 75 inwardor outward to provide a particular length of fabric path between blades54 and 55 via angles 56.

Outboard of both discs 65 and 66 on the shaft 26 is a bearing-sleevemember 81 on which is mounted advance and retard cams 82, pin load andunload cams 83, pin and unload cams 84, and cam stabilization mount 85which is fixed to the frame of the diaper machine and therefore does notrotate with the shaft 26. Cams 82, 83 and 84 do not rotate with theshaft 26 since they are secured to the cam stabilization mount by anysuitable means such as screw member 86. There are two identicalassemblies consisting of cams and cam stabilization mount with bearings,one on the outer side of each disc 65 and 66, to perform synchronouslyidentical functions. I

Bell crank 80 mounted at one point 87 via link 8741' to the discs 65 and66 and mounted at another bearing position 88 on pin member 69 on theblade and platen member 70 has a follower 89 connected thereto and inoperative relation to the fixed advance and retard cam 82 to causerotation of the disc and angles relative to the blade and platen member70 at pre-determined intervals.

Cam followers 90 and 92 in operative relationship with pin load andunload earns 83 are connected, respectively, to pin bars 62 and 64 tocontrol the radial position of the pins 60 in these respective pin bars.Cam followers 93 and 94 in operative relationship with pin load andunload cams 84 are connected, respectively, to pin bars 61 and 63 tocontrol the radial position of the pins 60 on these respective pin bars.

Mounted on bearings 95 on both ends of shaft 26 outboard of the camstabilization mounts 85 are swing arm or upper platen and film supportmembers 27, which are free to rotate in respect to shaft 26. Outboard ofthe swing arms 27 and mounted on frame 96 of the diaper machine are themain bearings 97 for the support of rotating shaft- 26.

As pointed out above, on one end of the shaft the drive gear 25 islocked by key member 98 to the shaft 26 for the purpose heretofore setforth. A screw cam member 98a is provided for this shaft to maintain thegear 25 in proper position and is screwed onto threaded end portion 99of shaft 26.

Rigidly secured thereto and rotating therewith n the other end of theshaft 26 is film feed cam 100, seal pressure cam 101, and seam detectcam 102. A retaining collar member 3 is secured by key member 104 to theshaft 26 to retain the cams 100, 101 and 102 in fixed phase relation toshaft 26 and equipment fixed thereon. The cams 100, 101 and 102 areconnected to the collar member 103 by suitable means such as screwmember 105. Switch members 106, 107 and 108 are mounted in operativerelationship respectively with cams 100, 101 and 102 for reasons setforth hereinafter.

As discussed briefly the swing arms 27 support the film feed assembly,shown in detail in FIGURE 9, and the upper platen assembly 13. The filmfeed assembly supplies the thermoplastic film between the diaper and theupper platen at pre-determined intervals. Then the upper platen memberis actuated to heat seal the thermoplastic material to the diapermaterial prior to severance. It is therefore imperative that oscillatingmotion of the swing arms be synchronized with the rotary motion of therotor-cage assembly 3 during a portion of the angle of rotation of therotor-cage assembly to insure a proper seal.

As previously pointed out the swing arms 27 are driven by a chain member30 which is operably associated with the countershaft 17. The chainmembers 30 are operably connected to sprockets 109 and 110 which arerotably carried by stub shafts 111 and 112 supported in end plates 18and 19. Looking at FIGURES 7 and 8 the crank arms 31 are pivotablysecured to the swing arms 27 at 113. The other end of the crank arm 31is secured to the chain member 30 by means of extended pin members 114and 115 which replace two standard link pins of the chain 30. Pinmembers 114 and 115 are connected to a bearing member 116 secured withinthe opening 117 and the crank arm 31. During a portion of the travel ofthe chain 30 the chain 30 slides on a curved slide plate 118 tosynchronize the angular velocity of the swing arm 27 with the angularvelocity of the rotor-cage assembly 3.

In the illustrated diaper machine the swing arms 27 carrying the upperplaten assembly 13 and the film feed assembly are geared to make twocomplete cycles to one complete rotation of the rotor-cage assembly 3 inorder to make two diapers for each complete rotation of the rotor-cageassembly. Other ratios higher than two to one can be used but the radianangle length of the useful work cycle (length of are upper platenassembly 13 is in exact synchronism with lower platen 52 or 53) becomesshorter. The desired two to one ratio or other ratios, if desired,requires that the length of chain 30 along its pitch line must beexactly equal to the circumference of a circle drawn through the chainpitch line above arc member 118 and centering on the center of shaft 26divided by the desired ratio which in the preferred embodiment is 2. Theselected circle, as pointed out, must center on the shaft 26 since therotor-cage assembly 3 also rotates on this center and the theoreticalangular velocity of any point on the selected circumference will be thesame for the rotor-cage assembly as for the swing arm assembly. In thecase of the preferred two to one ratio, the work cycle length will tendto approach 90 as sprockets 109 and 110 are diminished in size. However,under practical size consideration a work cycle length of approximately60 is easily achieved. The turn ratio between the power input drive tothe chain, in this case through sprocket 109 has to then satisfy thespeed requirement of the chain at both the pitch line of input sprocket109 and that generated by the pitch line circle whose radius is equal tothat from the center of shaft 26 to the center of the chain in contactwith are member.

Then, since the angular velocity of the swing arm 27 and the angularvelocity of the rotor-cage assembly 3- must be perfectly synchronizedfor a preselected angle of movement in order to have time to completethe thermoplastic seal on the diaper material the radius of curvature ofthe top of the side plate 118 is equal to the radius of curvature usedto obtain the above pre-selected circumference less the distance betweenthe bottom of the chain lilrliks which slide on the chute and the pitchline of the c ain.

Located between and connected to swing arms 27 is a hollow rectangularsupport member 119. Located within the support member 119 is a pluralityof pneumatic piston members 120 located across the width of the upperplaten member 13. Descending from each of the piston members 120 is arod member 121 screwed into a U-shaped bracket 122 which is pinned toflange member 123 welded or otherwise secured to the upper platen member13. The upper platen member 13 supported below the piston members 120consists of an elongated hollow tubular member 124, a strip of rubber125 about a quarter of an inch thick which turns the width of therectangular tubing member 124 to act as a pressure distributing element,the

upper platen, and a pair of L-shaped elongated brackets 126 welded orotherwise secured to the hollow tubular member to secure the upperplaten in position. The upper platen consists of two strips of metal 127and 128 between which a electric resistance heater 129 is embedded.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and a solenoid actuated four way pneumatic valve130 is mounted on the rectangular tubular member 119 to supply pneumaticpressure simultaneously to all of the pistons 120 when the seal pressurecam 101 actuates seal pressure cam switch 107 to actuate the solenoidoperated valve 130 in order to place the lower plate 129 of the upperplaten in sealing relationship with the lower platen, as shown in FIGURE6. Preferably the lower platen is wider than the upper platen to allowfor any slight misalignment of the platens as they are brought togetherto seal the thermoplastic material to the diaper material.

Looking now in particular to FIGURES 6 and 9 the PVC film feed assemblyis shown in detail. The film feed assembly is mounted on the rectangulartubular member 119 and therefore oscillates with the swing arms 27. Atthe same time the film feed assembly has a portion thereof which ismovable with respect to the oscillating swing arms to feed film to aposition on the diaper material between the upper and lower platens. ThePVC film roll 12 is rotatably secured in a pair of suitable supports 131connected to the rectangular tubular member 119. The film feed assemblyis supported by a bracket member 132 one of which is connected on eachend of the rectangular tubular member 119. Pivotally connected to eachbracket member 132 is a plate member 133 pivoted at 134. Connecting therespective bracket members 132 and plate members is a double actingpneumatic piston member 135 which is actuated from a signal from thefilm feed cam 100 and the film feed cam switch 106 which energizes anddeenergizes a four way valve (not shown) which controls the air pressureto the pneumatic piston member 135.

For the purpose of illustration in FIGURE 9 the support plate 136 freelymounted on the shaft 137 for the film feed roll 138, the ratchet member139 rigidly mounted on shaft 137, the spring loaded pawl 140, the singleacting pneumatic piston 141, and the bracket piece 133a are moved awayfrom the plate member 133. Bracket piece 133a actually is the top ofplate 133, which in FIGURE 9 would be hidden by the support member 132.Piston member 141 receives air from the pneumatic source, not shown, atthe same time that the top of piston member 135 receives air from thepneumatic source, not shown. Piston member 141 will act downward againstthe bias of compression spring 141a to rotate plate 136 counterclockwiseto force pawl 140 to engage one of notches of the ratchet 139 to rotateshaft 137 and feed roll 138 in order to advance approximatelyone-quarter inch of the film material F prior to insertion of suchmaterial by air jets 142 between the upper platen 13 and the lowerplaten 52 on top of the diaper material 1 prior to sealing. Aprons 143extending across the width of the material being sealed are guided byrolls 144, 145 and 146 supported in the plate member 133 is provided toassist in guiding and tensioning the PVC film material F. Looking atFIGURE 6 the roll 146 is supported in a pivotable member 146a which ispivotally secured to the inside of plate 133 at point 14611. The shaft146c of the roll 146 is carried in the elongated groove 146d and can bemoved therein by set screw arrangement 146e to vary the tension of thePVC film F. Roll 146 is supported at both ends of tubular member 119 inthis fashion.

Roll member 147 guiding the PVC film F and angle iron member 148 extendbetween the brackets 133 to provide rigidity and strength to the filmfeed assembly.

It should be pointed out that when air is applied to the top of piston135 that the plate 133 with all the members connected is swungcounterclockwise by the piston 135 to place the film feeding mechanismadjacent the platens. As pointed out above, air is also applied topiston 14] to advance the film F. When the air is taken off the top ofpistons and 141, the air will be applied to the bottom of piston 135 torotate the plate 133 clockwise but the piston 141 is returned upward bythe bias of compression spring 141a to move the pawl up to the nextnotch on the ratchet, ready for advancing the film feed when required.In other words, the pawl and ratchet are now cocked, ready for movementby the piston 141 again.

Looking now to FIGURES 10 and 18 the seam detector system will bedescribed. As previously pointed out the seam detector rolls 10 and 11are located between the dancer roll 9 and the rotor-cage assembly 3.Roll 10 is an idler roll and roll 11 is a feeler roll pivotally mountedat 156 and 157. Springs 158 can be employed to bias the feeler roll 11towards the idler roll 10. A pair of microswitches 159 and 160 arelocated adjacent the feeler roll support arms 161 and 162 respectivelyand electrically are connected in parallel so that one or the other orboth can actuate the seam detector circuit.

In normal operation both of the micro-switches 160 and 161 will be open,switch 108 can be opened or closed, and time delay coil 163 will bede-energized. Time delay switch 164 operated by time delay coil 163normally will be closed allowing seal pressure switch 107 to actuate anddeactuate solenoid valve 130 which supplies pneumatic pressure to theupper platen piston 120.

The seam detector system is designed to prevent the upper platen frombeing actuated to the seal position if the cloth being processed has aseam 154 or other area of unusual thickness therein which may damage theplatens if the platens are brought together on the fault. When an areaof cloth of unusual thickness passes through the rolls 10 and 11 thefeeler roll 11 will move away from the idler roll 10 against the bias ofthe springs 158 and close one or both of the micro-switches 159 and 160.Assuming that seam detect switch 108 is closed by seam detector cam 102the time delay coil 163 will be energized thereby opening time delayswitch 164 thereby deenergizing the circuit to the seal pressure switch107 and the pneumatic solenoid operated four way valve 130. It is thenimpossible to supply pneumatic pressure to the pistons 120, assumingthat seam detector cam switch 108 is closed, and bring the upper platendown into sealing position.

The timed interval of the time delay switch 164 is sufficient to holdthe platen piston circuit open until the upper platen is on the returnstroke but is not so long as to interfere with the operation of the nextcycle.

Seam detector cam 102 is so designed that seam detector cam switch 108is closed only when it is possible for a seam or a fault to lie in anarea of the cloth where it might be contacted by the platens during thesealing operation. Upon sensing a seam or fault which will not becontacted by the platens, closing of either switch 160 or 161 will notenergize the time delay switch coil under these conditions because seamdetect cam switch 108 will be open.

As previously described the diaper material 1, after the PVC film hasbeen sealed thereto, is severed at the center of the sealed strip areawhich will provide two selvages with a thermoplastic seal thereon toprevent unraveling-of the material. To properly sever the diapermaterial the fixed blade member 14 is mounted adjacent the rotor-cageassembly 3 to cooperate with blades 54 and 55. As will be describedhereinafter the sealed strip area on the diaper material is advancedclockwise from the lower platen 52 or 53 to a position where the knifeblade 54 or 55 is at the center of the sealed area. The rotor-cageassembly 3 is then rotated to a position where blade 14 and blade 54 or55 co-act to sever the material along the whole center length of thesealed area. After severing, the material below the knife blade 14 isreleased onto the conveyor 15 as a diaper with both edges sealed with aPVC film to prevent unraveling. A jet of air can be employed to aid inremoving the diaper from the rotor-cage assembly 3.

To gain proper diaper material severing action the blade member 14 issupported in the machine frame 96 by a pair of support members 166, oneof which is shown in FIGURE 5, at an angle to achieve a progressive orscissor type of cutting action. The an le of this fixed blade is setapproximately 2 to 3 degrees in relation to the axis of rotation of therotor-cage assembly 3 and the blades 54 and 55. Adjusting screws 167 areprovided to generally position the blade adjacent the rotor-cageassembly 3 and final adjusting screws 168 are provided along the wholelength of the blade to provide the final adjustment of the blade.

Blades 54 and 55 must be parallel to the axis of rotation of therotor-cage assembly 3 in order to provide a cut at right angles to thefabric selvage. This cut must be at right angles in order to provide asquare or rectangular shaped diaper with the sealed strip area on bothof the severed ends the same width. Therefore, since it is preferred tohave a shearing or scissor action on the material being cut the blade 14is mounted at an angle of 2 to 3 to the axis of rotation of therotor-cage assembly 3 to cooperate with the blades 54 and 55 which areparallel to the rotational axis. The blade member 14 can be slantedeither right to left or left to right within the scope of the invention.In our preferred embodiment, FIGURES 5 and 6, the blade member 14 isslanted down right to left.

In this type of blade arrangement it is necessary to employ a cuttingedge 169 on the blade 14 which has a curve which is equivalent to theperigees portion of an elliptical generatrix in order to properly matewith a straight movable blade describing a cylindrical generatrix. Itcan readily be seen that the elliptical shape of the blade is the onlyproper blade shape when you keep in mind that when you cut a cylinder atan angle not parallel to the axis that you obtain an elliptical surface.Therefore, since it is preferred to cut the diaper material 1 at anangle to the axis of rotation of the substantially cylindrically shapedrotor-cage assembly 3 to obtain the best shearing action on the diapermaterial, the cutting edge 169 of the blade 14 is elliptical shaped toconform to the theoretical elliptical path of the sequential cuttinglines of the cloth as it is being sheared by the blades 14 and 54 or 55.

OPERATION Looking now in detail to FIGURES 12-17, the operation of theherein disclosed textile machine will be described. The referenceletters A-E in FIGURE 12 represent, respectively, the positions of theapparatus shown in FIGURES 1317. It should be kept in mind that theoscillating swing arm 27 and the apparatus attached thereto goes throughtwo cycles for every complete rotation of the rotor-cage assembly 3 inorder to make two diapers for each complete rotation of the rotor-cageassembly.

In the position indicated at A the angular velocity of the swing arms 27is synchronized with the angular velocity of the rotor-cage assembly 3by the actuating portion of the chain 30 sliding over the chain slide118. Pins 60 in pin bars 61, 62 and 63 are in the out position while thepins 60 in the pin bar 64 are retracted. Film feed cam 100 has actuatedfilm feed cam switch 106 supplying air pressure to pistons 135 and 141thereby rotating the film feed assembly counterclockwise to a positionadjacent the incoming cloth 1 where approximately A of PVC film,advanced by the action of pawl and ratchet assembly 139, 140, is blownunder the upper platen by air jets 142 in a position to be sealed to thediaper material. At this time the swing arms are oscillating in theclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 13 and thediaper material is held between pins 60 in pin bars 61, 62 and 63.

When the swing arm assembly and the rotor-cage assembly rotate 5clockwise from point A to the position indicated by reference numeral170, seal pressure cam on the shaft 26 actuates seal pressure campressure 107 to energize the solenoid operated four way pneumatic valve130 to supply air pressure to pistons causing the upper platen to lowerto the position indicated in FIG- URES 6 and 14 where contact is madewith the lower platen 52 whereby heat and pressure are applied to thePVC film and diaper material therebetween. As indicated in FIGURE 12,the sealing operation will continue for a period equivalent to a 50rotation of the rotor-cage assembly 3.

When the swing arm and rotor-cage assembly has rotated 10 clockwise from170 to a position indicated by 171, the PVC film has been softened bythe heat supplied from the electric resistance heater 129 so that filmfeed cam 100 allows cam switch 106 to deactivate thereby allowing theair to exhaust from piston 141 and also allowing air to exhaust from theupper portion of piston 135 but simultaneously putting air pressure onthe bottom of piston 135 causing the film feed assembly attached tosupport plate 133 to rotate clockwise away from the upper platenassembly 13. Rotation of the film feed assembly away from the upperplaten assembly causes the softened PVC film to tear away from the PVCfilm being sealed to the diaper material. Exhausting of the air frompiston 141 allows spring 141a to rotate plate 136 clockwise moving pawl140 upone notch on the ratchet 139 to the cocked position.

FIGURE 14 indicates the position indicated by the reference letter B inFIGURE 12. This position is when the'rotor-cage assembly has rotatedabout 30 clockwise from point A. As indicated and described the filmfeed assembly has rotated clockwise away from the upper platen assembly13 and the upper platen assembly 13 is still in the heat sealin gposition.

When the swing arm assembly and the rotor-cage assembly rotate to theposition 172 which is about 50 clockwise from position 170, sealpressure cam 101 on shaft 26 allows seal pressure cam switch 107 tode-energize the solenoid actuated four way pneumatic valve which causesthe pneumatic actuated pistons 120 to raise the upper platen assembly 13away from the lower platen 52 thereby removing the electric resistanceheater away from the completed seal on the diaper material 1.

As point 173, which is approximately 60 clockwise from point A, theswing arm 27 has reached the end of synchronization with the rotor-cageassembly 3 and at approximately the same time has reached the end of theclockwise movement. At this point the chain 30 will stop and reverse themovement of the swing arms 27 to return to the swing arms in thecounterclockwise direction on the return stroke to prepare for anothersealing cycle while the rotor-cage assembly 3 continues to rotate in theclockwise direction. When the swing arms 27 have returned about 40counterclockwise from the reference point 173, the film feed cam 100actuates the film feed switch 106 to actuate the pneumatic air valve forthe pistons and 141 to rotate the film feed assembly on plate 133counterclockwise into position adjacent the upper platen assembly 13 androtates plate 136 counterclockwise so that pawl, which was previouslycocked, will rotate shaft 137 through ratchet 139 to advance the PVCfilm F a predetermined amount in preparation for sealing another sectionof diaper material.

In the meantime, the rotor-cage assembly 3 continues to rotate in theclockwise direction from point 173. During the 30 clockwise rotationfrom point 173 the cage advance and retard follower 89 is riding up thecam surface of the cage advance and repositioning cam 82 to cause theend support discs 57 and associated structure through bell crank 80 andpin member 69 to rotate clockwise with respect to platen member 70 inorder to place the blade 54 under the center of the previously completedPVC seal on the diaper material as shown in FIGURE 16. It should benoted in FIGURES 15 and 16 that the swing arms 27, are still on thereturn stroke, as indicated by the arrows.

As previously described the blade 14 is mounted on an angle ofapproximately 2 from the axis of rotation of the rotor-cage assembly 3.Therefore, starting at point D and continuing to point E clockwise frompoint D the co-action of the blades 54 and 14 severs the diaper materialat the center of the previously formed PVC seal.

Almost immediately after rotating clockwise beyond point E the cageadvance and repositioning follower 89 rides down the cam surface of cam82 to rotate the end support discs 57 and associated support structurethrough bell crank 80 and pin member 69 back into the sealing positionso that lower platen 53 will be in proper relation to the upper platenassembly 13 to provide another seal on the diaper material 1.

Also during the next 30 rotation of the rotor-cage assembly 3 from thepoint B to the point 174 the pin load and unload cams 83 and 84 causefollowers 90 and 94, respectively, to retract the pins in pin bars 62and 63 in order to doff the severed sealed diaper 174 onto the conveyor15.

As pointed out previously the herein disclosed apparatus provides twodiapers for each complete rotation of the rotor-cage assembly 3 so thatwhen pins 60 on pin bars 62 and 63 have just about completed the doflingof the completed diaper the pin bars 61 and 64 lower platen 53, andblade 55 are moving into sealing and cutting position adjacent the upperplaten assembly 13 and the above-described operation repeats itself.

Pin load and unload earns 83 and 84 are so designed and related to thepin bars 61-64 that when either pin bars 63 or 64 pass from point B topoint 174 the corresponding pin bar 63 or 61 passing from points 175 to176 will have the pins therein retracted along with the pins 60 in therespective pin bars 62 or 64 in order to dotf the completed diaper. Allpins 60 in all the pin bars are placed into operative position by thecams 83 and 84 as the respective pin bar passes through the zone betweenthe reference point 177 and the reference point A. This means that thepins in pin bars 62 and 64 are retracted from point 174 until they arerotated from point 174 to a position between point 177 and point A whilethe pins 60 in the pin bars 61 and 63 are retracted only from referencepoint 176 until they are rotated to a position between reference point177 and the reference point A. This unusual control of the pins in thepin bars in conjunction with the synchronization of the swing arms 27with the rotor-cage assembly provides a method and apparatus whichcontinuously provides a supply of diapers and at the same time providescomplete control over the material being sealed.

The herein disclosed invention provides continuously a product from aroll of textile material which has the cut edges automatically sealedwith a thermoplastic type selvage to prevent unraveling of the cloth.Furthermore, the invention provides a thermoplastic type selvage whichis applied in a film form, by a new and improved film feedingarrangement, thereby allowing continuous operation of the machineresulting in increased production rates. The herein disclosed inventionalso includes a novel arrangement to synchronize the oscillating motionof one member with the rotary motion of another. Furthermore, a novelcontrol device is provided which automatically varies the speed of thesupply material so as to produce a constant tension in said materialwhile it is being drawn into the sealing-cutting operation. This controlincorporates a delay mechanism which allows minor variations in thematerial feed without constantly changing the feed drive control. Anovel cloth advancing registry system is also provided that is far moreexact than seen heretofore when handling sleezy-stretchy ma-- teriallike gauze or Birdseye diaper cloth. Also, a novel cutting bladearrangement is provided to clearly and evenly sever the processedtextile material at the center of the thermoplastic seal to provide twoedges which have a thermoplastic type selvage to prevent unraveling. Astill further feature of the invention is a seam detecting or flawdetecting control which prevents the action of the heat applying platenif the seam or flaw detected will be contacted by the platen during thesealing operation.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described indetail, it is contemplated that many changes may be made withuotdeparting from the scope or spirit of the invention and it is desired tobe limited only by the claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. The method of converting a running length of fabric into shortersegments with sealed edges comprising the steps of passing a runningsheet of fabric through an arcuate path, placing a strip ofthermoplastic film material into contact with said fabric at a narrowtransverse edge to edge zone, heating and pressuring said strip ofthermoplastic film to said fabric during passage of said fabric andthermoplastic material through said arcuate path to form an integralsealed zone of fabric and thermoplastic material, severing said fabricalong said sealed zone during passage through said arcuate path bycommencing severing on one edge of said fabric and continuing thesevering in sequential incremental fashion from said one side to theother side as said fabric passes through said arcuate path, andreleasing the severed segment from said arcuate path.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said sealed zone is severedsubstantially in the center of said zone.

3. The method of converting a running length of fabric into shortersegments with sealed edges comprising the steps of passing a runningsheet of fabric through an arcuate path, guiding a heat and pressuringmember through a cyclic closed arcuate path, synchronizing a portion ofthe cyclic closed arcuate path of the heat and pressuring member with aportion of the arcuate path of said fabric, placing a strip ofthermoplastic film material into contact with said fabric at a narrowtransverse edge to edge zone, heating and pressuring said strip ofthermoplastic film to said fabric during a portion of thesynchronization period of said paths to form an integral sealed zone offabric and thermoplastic material, severing said fabric along saidsealed zone during passage through said arcuate path by commencingsevering on one edge of said fabric and continuing the severing insequential incremental fashion from said one side to the other side assaid fabric passes through said arcuate path, and releasing the severedsegment from said arcuate path, said fabric being moved at a differentspeed than said heat and pressurizing member during a portion of itsarcuate travel after heat sealing and before severing of said fabric tothereby move the sealed zone into position for severing.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the fabric is severed substantiallycentrally of said sealed zone.

5. The method of converting a running length of fabric into shortersegments with sealed edges comprising the steps of passing a runningsheet of fabric from a roll of fabric through an arcuate path,controlling the rate of supply of said fabric from said roll in responseto the length of said sheet of fabric, placing a strip of thermoplasticfilm material into contact with said fabric at a narrow transverse edgeto edge zone, heating and pressurizing said strip of thermoplastic filmto said fabric during passage of said fabric and thermoplastic materialthrough said arcuate path to form an integral sealed zone of fabric andthermoplastic material, severing said fabric along said sealed zoneduring passage through said arcuate path by commencing severing on oneedge of said fabric and continuing the severing in sequentialincremental fashion from said one side to the other side as said fabricpasses through said arcuate path, and releasing the severed segment fromsaid arcuate path.

6. The method of converting a running length of fabric into shortersegments with sealed edges comprising the steps of passing a runningsheet of fabric from a roll of fabric through an arcuate path,controlling the rate of supply of said fabric from said roll in responseto the length of said sheet of fabric, guiding a heat and pressurizingmember through a cyclic closed arcuate path, synchronizing a portion ofthe cyclic closed arcuate path of the heat and pressuring member with aportion of the arcuate path of said fabric, placing a strip ofthermoplastic film material into contact with said fabric at a narrowtransverse edge to edge zone, heating pressuring said strip ofthermoplastic film to said fabric during a portion of thesynchronization period of said paths to form an integral sealed zone offabric and thermoplastic material, severing said fabric along saidsealed zone during passage through said arcuate path by commencingsevering on one edge of said fabric and continuing the severing insequential incremental fashion from said one side to the other side assaid fabric passes through said arcuate path, and releasing the severedsegment from said arcuate path.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the fabric is severed substantiallycentrally of said sealed zone.

8. The method of converting a running length of fabric into shortersegments with sealed edges comprising the steps of passing a runningsheet of fabric through an arcuate path, placing a strip ofthermoplastic film material into contact with said fabric at a narrowtransverse edge to edge zone, simultaneously applying heat andsubstantially uniform pressure to said thermoplastic film atsubstantially all points across the width of said narrow zone duringpassage of said fabric and thermoplastic material through said arcuatepath to form an integral sealed zone of fabric and thermoplasticmaterial, severing said fabric along said sealed zone during passagethrough said arcuate path, and releasing the severed segment from saidarcuate path.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said thermoplastic filmmaterial is sheet material which is brought into physical contact withsaid fabric during the heating and pressuring thereof.

10. The method according to claim 8 including releasing theseveredfabric during a next succeeding cycle of sealing of a succeedingportion of said fabric with a succeeding portion of said thermoplasticmaterial, and continuing sealing, severing, and releasing in sequentialarcuate fashion on successive running length of said fabric.

11. The method of converting a running length of fabric into shortersegments with sealed edges comprising the steps of continuously passinga running sheet of fabric through an arcuate path, placing a strip ofthermoplastic film material into contact with said fabric at a narrowtransverse edge to edge zone, simultaneously applying heat andsubstantially uniform pressure to said thermoplastic film atsubstantially all points across the width of said narrow zone duringpassage of said fabric and thermoplastic material through said arcuatepath to form an integral sealed zone of fabric and thermoplasticmaterial, severing said fabric along said sealed zone during passagethrough said arcuate path, and releasing the severed segment from saidarcuate path.

12. The method according to claim 11 including releasing the severedfabric during a next succeeding cycle of sealing of a succeeding portionof said fabric with a succeeding portion of said thermoplastic material,and continuing sealing, severing, and releasing in sequential arcuatefashion on successive running length of said fabric.

13. The method of converting a running length of fabric into shortersegments with sealed edges comprising the steps of passing a runningsheet of fabric from a roll of fabric through an arcuate path,controlling the rate of supply of said fabric from said roll in responseto the length of said sheet of fabric, placing a strip of thermoplasticfilm material into contact with said fabric at a narrow transverse edgeto edge zone, simultaneously applying heat and substantially uniformpressure to said thermoplastic film at substantially all points acrossthe width of said narrow zone during passage of said fabric andthermoplastic material through said arcuate path to form an integralsealed zone of fabric and thermoplastic material, severing said fabricalong said sealed zone during passage through said arcuate path, andreleasing the severed segment from said arcuate path.

14. The method according to claim 13 including releasing the severedfabric during a next succeeding cycle of sealing of a succeeding portionof said fabric with a succeeding portion of said thermoplastic material,and continuing sealing, severing, and releasing in sequential arcuatefashion on successive running length of said fabric.

15. The method of converting a running length of fabric into shortersegments with sealed edges comprising the steps of passing a runningsheet of fabric through an arcuate path, guiding a heat and pressuringmember through a cyclic closed arcuate path, synchronizing a portion ofthe cyclic closed arcuate path of the heat and pressuring member with aportion of the arcuate path of said fabric, placing a strip ofthermoplastic film material into contact with said fabric at a narrowtransverse edge to edge zone, heating and pressuring said strip ofthermoplastic film to said fabric during a portion of thesynchronization periods of said paths to form an integral sealed zone offabric and thermoplastic material, severing said fabric along saidsealed zone during passage through said arcuate path, and releasing thesevered segment from said arcuate path.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the fabric is moved at a differentspeed than said heat and pressurizing member during a portion of itsarcuate travel after heat sealing and before severing of said fabric tothereby move the sealed zone into position for severing.

17. The method according to claim 15 including releasing the severedfabric during a next succeeding cycle of sealing of a succeeding portionof said fabric with a succeeding portion of said thermoplastic material,and continuing sealing, severing, and releasing in sequential arcuatefashion on successive running length of said fabric.

18. The method of converting a running length of fabric into shortersegments with sealed edges comprising the steps of passing a runningsheet of fabric from a roll of fabric through an arcuate path,controlling the rate of supply of said fabric from said roll in responseto the length of said sheet of fabric, guiding a heat and pressurizingmember through a cyclic closed arcuate path, synchronizing a portion ofthe cyclic closed arcuate path of the heat and pressuring member with aportion of the arcuate path of said fabric, placing a strip ofthermoplastic film material into contact with said fabric at a narrowtransverse edge to edge zone, heating and pressuring said strip ofthermoplastic film to said fabric during a portion of thesynchronization period of said paths to form an integral sealed zone offabric and thermoplastic material, severing said fabric along saidsealed zone during passage through said arcuate path, and releasing thesevered segment from said arcuate path.

19. The method according to claim 18 including releas ing the severedfabric during a next succeeding cycle of sealing of a succeeding portionof said fabric with a succeedingportion of said thermoplastic material,and continuing sealing, severing, and releasing in sequential arcuatefashion on successive running lengths of said fabric.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the fabric is moved at a differentspeed than said heat and pressurizing member during a portion of itsarcuate travel after heat sealing and before severing of said fabric tothereby move the sealed zone into position for severing.

21. A selvage forming machine for a running sheet of fabric includingmeans for continuously feeding a sheet of fabric, a mechanism forengaging the sheet of fabric and forming a selvage therein, saidmechanism including means for placing a strip of thermoplastic filmmaterial on said fabric, means to apply heat and substantially uniformpressure simultaneously to substantially the full 15 width of said filmmaterial on said fabric to form a seal, and cutting means for severingsaid fabric along said sealed portion thereof, said means to apply heatand pressure including at least a pair of platen members with at leastone of said members being heated.

22. The structure of claim 21 wherein means are provided to drive one ofsaid platen members in a cyclic closed path.

23. The structure of claim 22 wherein means are included tointermittently move said platen member moving in said cyclic closed pathto engage said running sheet of fabric and said thermoplastic filmmateiral to heat and compress said fabric and film material between saidplaten members.

24. The structure of claim 23- wherein said means for placing a strip ofthermoplastic film material on said fabric also is driven in a cyclicclosed path.

25. The structure of claim 24 wherein said means for placing a strip ofthermoplastic film material and said cylic moved platen member areinterconnected and move in the same cyic closed path.

26. The structure of claim 25 wherein said means driving said platenmember in a cyclic closed path includes a chain and slide arrangement inwhich the slide forces the chain to follow a pre-determined path duringa portion of its travel.

27. A selvage forming machine for a running sheet of fabric comprising:a frame, a rotating member mounted in said frame, means supplying asheet of fabric to said rotating member, means synchronized with saidrotating member to supply a strip of thermoplastic film material to saidsheet of fabric on said rotating member, means to heat and applysubstantially uniform pressure simultaneously to substantially the fullwidth of said thermoplastic film to form a seal on said fabric, andmeans synchronized with said rotating member to sever said fabric alongsaid thermoplastic seal, said means to apply heat and pressure includinga pair of platen members with at least one of said members being heated.

28. The structure of claim 27 wherein one of said platen members is onsaid rotating member, and means are provided to drive said other platenmember in a cyclic closed path.

29. The structure of claim 28 wherein means are provided to synchronizethe angular velocities of said platen members for a pre-determinedportion of said cyclic closed path.

30. The structure of claim 29 wherein said means to synchronize theangular velocities of said platen members is a chain and slidearrangement, said chain being forced by said slide to follow apre-determined path during a portion of its travel.

31. The structure of claim 29 wherein said means to synchronize theangular velocites of said platen members is a chain and slidearrangement, said chain being forced by said slide to follow apre-determined arcuate path, the center of which coincides with thecenter of rotation of said rotating member.

32. The structure of claim 29 wherein means are included to force saidplaten members toward one another during a portion of the synchronizedportion of the cyclic closed path to heat and seal the strip of thethermoplastic film material to said fabric therebetween.

33. The structure of claim 32 wherein a blade member is mounted on saidrotating member under said sheet of fabric, and means are provided torotate said sealed fabric from said platen member on said rotatingmember to a position wherein said seal is over said blade member.

34. The structure of claim 33 wherein a second blade means is mounted insaid frame to cooperate with said blade member to cut said fabric alongsaid seal.

35. The structure of claim 34 wherein said blade member is mounted witha cutting edge parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotating member,and said second blade means is mounted with the cutting edge at an angleto the axis of rotation of said rotating member to cooperate with saidblade member to shear said fabric along said seal.

36. The structure of claim 35 wherein said cutting edge of said secondcutting means is elliptical-shaped.

37. A machine for forming a plurality of segments of fabric from arunning sheet of fabric comprising: a frame, a rotating member in saidframe, means supplying a sheet of fabric to said rotating member, afirst cutting means mounted in said rotating member under said fabricwith the cutting edge thereof mounted parallel to the axis of rotationof said rotating member, and second cutting means mounted in said framewith a cutting edge at an angle to the axis of rotation of said rotatingmember and adapted to cooperate with said first cutting means to cutsaid fabric in a sequential shearing incremental fashion.

38. The structure of claim 37 wherein the cutting edge of said secondcutting means is elliptical shaped.

39. A selvage forming machine for a running sheet of fabric comprising:a frame, a rotating member mounted in said frame, a platen membermounted in said rotating member, a cutting member mounted in saidrotating member adjacent said platen member, pin means mounted in saidrotating member and movable in relation to said platen and cuttingmembers, said pin means projecting through said sheet of fabric, anupper platen and film feeding assembly supported adjacent said rotatingmember, drive means continuously rotating said rotating member anddriving said upper platen and film feeding assembly in a closed cyclicpath, means to peridically supply a strip of thermoplastic film materialfrom film feeding assembly to a position on said fabric between saidplaten members, means to heat one of said platens, means to periodicallyforce said upper platen into engagement with said lower platen to heatand seal said film to said fabric therebetween, means to advance saidsealed portion of said fabric to a position over said cutting member,and a second cutting member mounted in said frame adjacent said rotatingmember to cooperate with the cutting member on said rotating member tocut said fabric along said seal.

40. The structure of claim 39 wherein means are provided to retract saidpin means after cutting of said fabric to doff the severed segment ofsaid fabric.

41. The structure of claim 39 wherein means are provided to move saidfilm feed assembly relative to said upper platen member.

42. A selvage forming machine for a running sheet of fabric comprising:a frame, rotating member mounted in said frame, means supplying a sheetof fabric to said rotating member, means synchronized with said rotatingmember to supply a strip of thermoplastic film material to said sheet offabric on said rotating member, platen means to heat and applysubstantially uniform pressure simultaneously to substantially the fullwidth of said thermoplastic film to form a seal on said fabric, meanssynchronized with said rotating member to sever said fabric along saidthermoplastic seal, and means to move said fabric at a different speedthan said platen means during a portion of its arcuate travel after heatsealing and before severing of said fabric to thereby move the sealedzone out of registry with said platen means prior to severing.

43. The structure of claim 42 wherein said platen means includes atleast one platen member mounted on said rotating member and said fabricis moved relative to said platen member.

44. The structure of claim 43 wherein a cutting blade is mounted on saidrotating member adjacent said platen member, said seal being moved fromsaid platen member to a position over said cutting blade.

45. A selvage forming machine for a running sheet of fabric comprising:a frame, a rotating member mounted in said frame, means supplying asheet of fabric to said rotating member, means synchronized with saidrotating member to supply a strip of thermoplastic film material to saidsheet of fabric on said rotating member, means to heat and applysubstantially uniform pressure simultaneously to substantially the fullwidth of said thermoplastic film to form a seal on said fabric, andmeans synchronized with said rotating member to sever said fabric alongsaid thermoplastic seal.

46. A selvage forming machine for a running sheet of fabric comprising:a frame, a rotating member mounted in said frame, means supplying asheet of fabric to said rotating member, means synchronized with saidrotating member to supply a strip of thermoplastic film material to saidsheet of fabric on said rotating member, means to heat and applysubstantially uniform pressure simultaneously to substantially the fullwidth of said thermoplastic film to form a seal on said fabric, meanssynchronized with said rotating member to sever said fabric along saidthermoplastic seal, and means to move said fabric at a different speedthan said means to heat and apply pressure after heat sealing and beforesevering of said fabric to thereby move the sealed zone out of registrywith the means to heat and apply pressure prior to severing.

47. A selvage forming machine for a running sheet of fabric includingmeans for continuously feeding a sheet of fabric, a mechanism forengaging the sheet of fabric and forming a selvage therein, saidmechanism including means for intermittently placing a strip ofthermoplastic film material on said fabric, means to apply heat andsubstantially uniform pressure simultaneously to substantially the fullwidth of said film material on said fabric to form a seal, and cuttingmeans for severing said fabric along said sealed portion thereof.

48. A selvage forming machine for a running sheet of fabric includingmeans for feeding a sheet of fabric, a mechanism for engaging the sheetof fabric and forming a selvage therein, said mechanism including meansfor placing a strip of thermoplastic film material on said fabric, meansto apply heat and substantially uniform pressure simultaneously tosubstantially the full width of said film material on said fabric toform a seal, and cutting means for severing said fabric along saidsealed portion thereof.

49. A selvage forming machine for a running sheet of fabric includingmeans for continuously feeding a sheet of fabric, a mechanism forengaging the sheet of fabric and forming a selvage therein, saidmechanism including means for placing a strip of thermoplastic filmmaterial on said fabric, means to apply heat and substantially uniformpressure simultaneously to substantially the full Width of said filmmaterial on said fabric to form a seal, and cutting means for severingsaid fabric along said sealed portion thereof.

50. A selvage forming machine for a running sheet of fabric comprising:a frame, a rotating member mounted in said frame, means supplying asheet of fabric to said rotating member, means synchronized with saidrotating member to intermittently supply a strip of thermoplastic filmmaterial to said sheet of fabric on said rotating member, means to heatand apply substantially uniform pressure simultaneously to substantiallythe full width of said thermoplastic film to form a seal on said fabric,and means synchronized with said rotating member to sever said fabricalong said thermoplastic seal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,244,140 6/ 1941 Caldwell156-519 2,319,307 5/1943 Eddy 161-86 2,600,322 6/1952 Raney 156-5191,660,950 2/ 1928 Zimniewicz 83-349 2,378,112 6/1945 Tuthill et al.156-519 2,543,101 2/1951 Francis l56-62.2 2,619,089 11/ 1952 Swartz161-86 2,670,783 3/ 1954 Moravec et al 156-516 2,805,715 9/1957 Novick83-341 3,012,481 12/1961 Hughes 156-519 3,073,196 1/ 1963 Marcalus242-56 3,250,659 5/1966 Jackson 242-56 3,298,891 1/1967 Beck 156-519HAROLD ANSHER, Primary Examiner W. E. HOAG, Assistant Examiner US. Cl.X.R.

1. THE METHOD OF CONVERTING A RUNNING LENGTH OF FABRIC INTO SHORTERSEGMENTS WITH SEALED EDGES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PASSING A RUNNINGSHEET OF FABRIC THROUGH AN ARCUATE PATH, PLACING A STRIP OFTHERMOPLASTIC FILM MATERIAL INTO CONTACT WITH SAID FABRIC AT A NARROWTRANSVERSE EDGE TO EDGE ZONE, HEATING AND PRESSURING SAID STRIP OFTHERMOPLASTIC FILM TO SAID FABRIC DURING PASSAGE OF SAID FABRIC ANDTHERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL THROUGH SAID ARCUATE PATH TO FORM AN INTEGRALSEALED ZONE OF FABRIC AN THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL, SEVERING SAID FABRICALONG SAID SEALED ZONE DURING PASSAGE THROUGH SAID ARCUATE PATH BYCOMMENCING SEVERING ON ONE EDGE OF SAID FABRIC AND CONTINUING THESEVERING IN SEQUENTIAL INCREMENTAL FASHION FROM SAID ONE SIDE TO THEOTHER SIDE AS SAID FABRIC PASSES THROUGH SAID ACRUATE PATH, ANDRELEASING THE SEVERED SEGMENT FROM SAID ACUATE PATH.